Introduction:
Born in the “Burned-out District”, Smith claimed to have met God and Jesus, and was told by them not to commit to any of the religions. 3 years later Smith was met by the angel Moroni, who told him that there were golden scrolls buried near him, and he went on to find the scrolls and translated them into the Book of Mormon. Smith finished writing the Book of Mormon in 1829, and his friend Martin Harris financed the publishing of 5000 of them. In 1830 Smith founded the Church of Christ, and it slowly spread out from there. The church grew throughout New York, but there was ample opposition to the church and Smith was Tar and Feathered. Because of this Smith moved the church to Missouri, where they were further disliked. They continued to move farther West, and were continually harassed by the public. Smith mandated that if the Mormons were attacked, they would seek revenge. Mormons and anti-Mormons skirmished and many burned each others homes down. He was arrested and tried for treason, but managed to escape from the jail. Smith and his followers moved farther West and bought waterlogged land in Mississippi. Many Mormons died from Malaria. Smith traveled to Washington met with President Van Buren, but received no government aid. Smith eventually received a charter to create his own city called Nauvoo. He created his own government and he was the mayor of the city. However, Smith ultimately became unpopular and eventually was arrested and then shot in jail by a mob of assassins. Smith died on June 7, 1844. Smith is the father of the Church of the Latter Days Saints, which today has over 14 million followers.
Smith's Criticisms of Society:
Smith wasn’t known for criticizing society, but rather he created his own religion which was very different from society. Smith claimed that there had been a civilization of Israelites in the USA and that Jesus Christ had been there. He also said that god had a body of flesh and bone, and that God didn’t create the universe but rather that he created Earth from existing matter. Smith’s most controversial characteristic was that he practiced Polygamy, having as many as 30 wives. Smith claimed that “the women and their families would benefit spiritually from a close tie to the Prophet.” All in all, Smith’s main “criticism” would be that not everyone was a Mormon, and he set out to convert more people.
Smith’s Goals to Change Society:
Smith’s goal was to convert as many people to the Church of the Latter Day Saints. He wanted to convince people that his prophecies were true and from god, and he wanted people to practice his religion. He sent missionaries all over the world to convert people, which shows how he wanted Mormonism to become a worldwide movement. Smith also wanted to create his own territory, which would be Mormon. This would prevent conflicts with other religions and groups, and allow his religion to flourish. He more or less wanted to create his own society which was based around his prophecies and the Church of the Latter Day Saints.
Methods of Improving American life:
Smith attempted to improve American life by preaching his religion, writing and promoting the Book of Mormon, and continually recording his prophecies. Smith actually worked towards improving the life of Mormons as opposed to the lives of Americans, he was only concerned his own people. In some ways, Smith actually worsened the lives of some Americans. As the most influential member of the religion, Smith was responsible for the “Mormon Wars”, which left over a dozen people dead and another dozen mortally wounded. However, Smith did work diligently towards helping out his fellow Mormons. He traveled to Washington to ask for Federal Assistance because of the failing Mormon settlements in Mississippi, and also eventually received a charter to create his own city, which he built around his religion and was designed to help the Mormons. Furthermore, he sent Missionaries all over the nation and even into Europe to convert more people to his movement. Over all, Smith didn’t improve American life, but he did create a religion which would greatly influence it in the future.
Successes in Reform:
Smith did have his various successes in reform. He created a completely new religion which rapidly grew and converted many to its cause. He had many loyal followers who revered him as a prophet, and convinced all of them that his religion was the true one. Today there are over 14 million Mormons worldwide, which greatly speaks for how successful Smith was at creating his own church. Other successes of Smith include his gaining of a charter to create his own city, Nauvoo, which became the center of the Mormon church at that time(Today the church is very prevalent in Utah). While Smith was often criticized, even being Tar and Feathered and assassinated, he did manage to convert many people to his religion, and today it’s the fourth largest religion in the USA. Presidential Aid: Hyrum Smith was Joseph Smiths brother, and he also helped Joseph write the Book of Mormon, serving as Smith’s advisor. The two were tar and feathered in 1832. He was a church leader of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and died side by side with his brother in 1844. He was a strong believer in Mormonism and fully supported his brother, whom he believed to be a true profit.
References 1.) Martin Harris:
Martin Harris was a friend of Smiths who wrote down Smith’s translations of the Golden plates down. He truly believed Smith and worked very hard to help write the Book of Mormon. He also mortgaged his farm to help pay for the printing of 5000 Books of Mormon. He and Smith were both founding figures in the Mormon religion and Harris could account for how Smith truly was a profit.
2.) Hyrum Smith:
Hyrum Smith was Joseph Smiths brother, and he also helped Joseph write the Book of Mormon, serving as Smith’s advisor. The two were tar and feathered in 1832. He was a church leader of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and died side by side with his brother in 1844. He was a strong believer in Mormonism and fully supported his brother, whom he believed to be a true profit. Bibliography
"American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith." PBS. Web. 06 Oct. 2009. <http://www.pbs.org/americanprophet/joseph-smith.html>.
"American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith." PBS. Web. 06 Oct. 2009. <http://www.pbs.org/americanprophet/prophecies.html>.
"American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith." PBS. Web. 06 Oct. 2009. <http://www.pbs.org/americanprophet/timeline.html>.
"Joseph Smith, Jr. -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 06 Oct. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith,_Jr.>.
"Mormonism -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 06 Oct. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism>.
Joseph Smith
(1805-1844)
Introduction:
Born in the “Burned-out District”, Smith claimed to have met God and Jesus, and was told by them not to commit to any of the religions. 3 years later Smith was met by the angel Moroni, who told him that there were golden scrolls buried near him, and he went on to find the scrolls and translated them into the Book of Mormon. Smith finished writing the Book of Mormon in 1829, and his friend Martin Harris financed the publishing of 5000 of them. In 1830 Smith founded the Church of Christ, and it slowly spread out from there. The church grew throughout New York, but there was ample opposition to the church and Smith was Tar and Feathered. Because of this Smith moved the church to Missouri, where they were further disliked. They continued to move farther West, and were continually harassed by the public. Smith mandated that if the Mormons were attacked, they would seek revenge. Mormons and anti-Mormons skirmished and many burned each others homes down. He was arrested and tried for treason, but managed to escape from the jail. Smith and his followers moved farther West and bought waterlogged land in Mississippi. Many Mormons died from Malaria. Smith traveled to Washington met with President Van Buren, but received no government aid. Smith eventually received a charter to create his own city called Nauvoo. He created his own government and he was the mayor of the city. However, Smith ultimately became unpopular and eventually was arrested and then shot in jail by a mob of assassins. Smith died on June 7, 1844. Smith is the father of the Church of the Latter Days Saints, which today has over 14 million followers.
Smith's Criticisms of Society:
Smith wasn’t known for criticizing society, but rather he created his own religion which was very different from society. Smith claimed that there had been a civilization of Israelites in the USA and that Jesus Christ had been there. He also said that god had a body of flesh and bone, and that God didn’t create the universe but rather that he created Earth from existing matter. Smith’s most controversial characteristic was that he practiced Polygamy, having as many as 30 wives. Smith claimed that “the women and their families would benefit spiritually from a close tie to the Prophet.” All in all, Smith’s main “criticism” would be that not everyone was a Mormon, and he set out to convert more people.
Smith’s Goals to Change Society:
Smith’s goal was to convert as many people to the Church of the Latter Day Saints. He wanted to convince people that his prophecies were true and from god, and he wanted people to practice his religion. He sent missionaries all over the world to convert people, which shows how he wanted Mormonism to become a worldwide movement. Smith also wanted to create his own territory, which would be Mormon. This would prevent conflicts with other religions and groups, and allow his religion to flourish. He more or less wanted to create his own society which was based around his prophecies and the Church of the Latter Day Saints.
Methods of Improving American life:
Smith attempted to improve American life by preaching his religion, writing and promoting the Book of Mormon, and continually recording his prophecies. Smith actually worked towards improving the life of Mormons as opposed to the lives of Americans, he was only concerned his own people. In some ways, Smith actually worsened the lives of some Americans. As the most influential member of the religion, Smith was responsible for the “Mormon Wars”, which left over a dozen people dead and another dozen mortally wounded. However, Smith did work diligently towards helping out his fellow Mormons. He traveled to Washington to ask for Federal Assistance because of the failing Mormon settlements in Mississippi, and also eventually received a charter to create his own city, which he built around his religion and was designed to help the Mormons. Furthermore, he sent Missionaries all over the nation and even into Europe to convert more people to his movement. Over all, Smith didn’t improve American life, but he did create a religion which would greatly influence it in the future.
Successes in Reform:
Smith did have his various successes in reform. He created a completely new religion which rapidly grew and converted many to its cause. He had many loyal followers who revered him as a prophet, and convinced all of them that his religion was the true one. Today there are over 14 million Mormons worldwide, which greatly speaks for how successful Smith was at creating his own church. Other successes of Smith include his gaining of a charter to create his own city, Nauvoo, which became the center of the Mormon church at that time(Today the church is very prevalent in Utah). While Smith was often criticized, even being Tar and Feathered and assassinated, he did manage to convert many people to his religion, and today it’s the fourth largest religion in the USA.
Presidential Aid: Hyrum Smith was Joseph Smiths brother, and he also helped Joseph write the Book of Mormon, serving as Smith’s advisor. The two were tar and feathered in 1832. He was a church leader of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and died side by side with his brother in 1844. He was a strong believer in Mormonism and fully supported his brother, whom he believed to be a true profit.
References
1.) Martin Harris:
Martin Harris was a friend of Smiths who wrote down Smith’s translations of the Golden plates down. He truly believed Smith and worked very hard to help write the Book of Mormon. He also mortgaged his farm to help pay for the printing of 5000 Books of Mormon. He and Smith were both founding figures in the Mormon religion and Harris could account for how Smith truly was a profit.
2.) Hyrum Smith:
Hyrum Smith was Joseph Smiths brother, and he also helped Joseph write the Book of Mormon, serving as Smith’s advisor. The two were tar and feathered in 1832. He was a church leader of the Church of the Latter Day Saints and died side by side with his brother in 1844. He was a strong believer in Mormonism and fully supported his brother, whom he believed to be a true profit.
Bibliography
"American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith." PBS. Web. 06 Oct. 2009. <http://www.pbs.org/americanprophet/joseph-smith.html>.
"American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith." PBS. Web. 06 Oct. 2009. <http://www.pbs.org/americanprophet/prophecies.html>.
"American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith." PBS. Web. 06 Oct. 2009. <http://www.pbs.org/americanprophet/timeline.html>.
"Joseph Smith, Jr. -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 06 Oct. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith,_Jr.>.
"Mormonism -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 06 Oct. 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism>.